The Portland daily press., 1887-02-11
THRAsHEp INTO MAN
HOOD.
New England Farmer.


But this is neither here nor there
CONSTABLE john Frlck is going to tell some
of his experience on duty
mind the day well when l received the
paper 10 warn certain family that they
must get out, that is, leave the house of
Landlord Craigly, because il was an awful
Singing cold day in March, when the wind
seemed TO be tearing things to flinders round
the corners Of the old frame buildings, and
whistled and howled in a way to make a
base burner head boss of the ranch.
Rooms and Z, in great rambling barn of
place, one OF dingy block down the river;
q grimy-looking brick building that had onco
been warehouse. Now, the long, narrow
wilderness of starerooms were cut into little
cubby holes to live in at both ends, with just
one window for light, and dark passageways
TO pass in and out.
remember thought they were miserable
places for Gods creatures to live in, and aw-
1ul weather to put family out onto the side
walk in.
| may as well own up that Constable John
Erick bad mo heart for this part of the
business. OF course the landlord had right
to his rent. That's evident. If the tenants
dldu't pay they must go out.
All the same Constable John Prick felt
mean and uncomfortable.
To save his neck he couldn't account for
it, but it seemed as if something would keep
ON suggesting: suppose there's a delicate
woman and a lot of little children!'
For answer the soul of Constable John
INTO the cold roadway such singing weather
will be miserable, make the best of it )" and
his heart kicked" strong against it.
But this was borrowing trouble. And it
1t might be that the man-Carl Sevholm
was his name on the writ-would go out
peaceful. know prayed strong it might
be so, though it would be fees out of Con-
BILE John Tricks pocket if he did.
Room 6 in the rear on the ground floor. |
had to reach it through a saloon. Curious
how saloons seem to be everlastingly mixed
up with poor families who have to be put
out into the street.
Who kept the saloon never knew There
was greasy-faced, fat bellied bulk of
man, In a brown knit wooden jacket behind
the bar, and slim young fellow crouched
aga inst the wall to one side, booty, stupid
from the effects of liquor or beer.
1t pretty nigh made me sick to look at this
young chap; he was so frowsy and rumpled
and filthy, as If he had been rolled in a dust
heap and they raked through the gutter.
Mr.. Seyholm. AS l looked at him invol-
unfairly said to myself: God help your wife
The greasy-faced man jerked his thumb
over his shoulder to indicate room 6, and /
raped for admittance.
Never was so surprised in my life. Ex-
pected to find a satternly, fr0wsy woman to
match the s0dden husband, and mess of
dirty, squalllng brats tumbling about the
floor in confusion.
Nothing of the kind. If you'll believe, /
found sllm-bullt, pale-faced little woman,
sitting in low rocking chair with a wee ba-
by on her lap, trying to coo it out of the fret
full pain it was in.
One day-and not far away, either,-she
had been as pretty DIS picture" But thi S
was past Trouble Of mind had gots in its
awful wearing work, making her delicate
face thin and pinched and death-like and
the big eyes unnaturally bright.
There was pretty fair show of tidyish
fur1aif11rn oul
ment had fallen like mildew on it and the
mistress had lost all heart in trying to keep
1t trim and shapely.
could see that as plain as a big sign-bcard.
Trouble has its own stamp, and If you've
seen it once, you know it again the minute
you set eyes on it,
/ swear, | felt bad, looking at the dis
couragement, the troubled look on the wo-
mans face, and the wee sick baby in her
lap-remembering the sodden brute of hus-
band outside. 1t made my voice tremble so
when | went in to explain my business, that
don't believe made myself understood.
But she was expecting what came for, be-
cause the landlord had handed in his notice
to leave. She tried to smile, poor thing,
falterlng out the word that she supposed /
was the constable.
TWAS an awful sick smile though. 1t made
my heart ache to see it, 1t was a sight more
pitiful than a frown.
1t may seem strange admission to make.
but Constable John Prick apologized for do
ing his duty. Actually. said he was sorry for
having to do It, Then he touched the weeny
said he hoped it would soon be well, and
otherwise talked in a way some folks might
nave thought was ridiculous in a constable.
But then # man has soft, tender heart,
being constable won't change it, you know.
When the landlord came to the sources
ONCE, four days'later, and peremptorily or
dered the things put out Of rooms six and
seven, Constable John Prick felt about as
a. ha hnd folk al T. IT.
hadn't been able to get that delicate little
woman's face out of his mind, nor the sick
baby, nor the drunken wretch of husband
To tell the plain truth, he and his good
wife had talked the matter over frequently
You see she was mother and had a moth
er's big and tender heart in her bosom, quick
as flash to feel where children were con-
cerned. Only that morning, when / was
starting away on duty, she said, promiscuous
like:
'Recollect, John Prick, if you put that
poor woman and her baby out into the street
such day as this-snowing and blowing fit
to kill-you needn't never look me in the
face again."
Jane sad in my most dignifed voice,
II must do my duty"
But. Lord, what heap of mean, cruel
things we sometimes do in that same name
OF duty.
When the writ of expulsion was nut into
my hands, and the landlord said he wouldn't
give another day, felt meaner than a skunk
The weather was just fearful. 1t was not
only biting cold, but damp and foggy, and
enough gloomy to make folks in trouble bend
their ideas TO getting relief by self murder
found the same sodden young man in the
saloon, as tipsy and slouchy and dirty as be-
fore. No, come to think, not exactly the
same; Now he was noisy drunk, staggering
ABOUT the place, swearing and Dragging,
thlck-tongued and maudlin, and looking still
more disgusting than when he was doubled
up on the chair.
What the - do you want in here9" he
yelled, as was passing on to room six
You dry up, Sevholmv snapped the
greasy faced man, grabbing him by the arm
and swinging him back from following after
me. Hes got business with. your wife.
Keep still-youre not fit for business"
But the tipsy loafer broke away and burst
into the presence of his wife, and when had
explained the nature of my errand he ranted
out:
tits all right, Elsie I've got place
ready. I'll fetch a wagon and have the
things. moved right away" And out he
started ON the run.
81 am glad of that" l said to his wife, as
she held up. her white, troubled face towards
me, How in the world did so nice woman
become tied to a brute Ike this?
"Ob, If he only willv' was the pitlful ex-
clamation Of the heart-stricken woman.
now learned that another suite of rooms
had been secured, only waiting the payment
OF the first months rent in advace, and that
by the sale of portion of his wife's best
wearing apparel, the needed money had
been secured. j also learned that the man
was first-class workman in business that
paid exceptionally high wages, and that I'M
I'll he had fallen into habits of intoxication
they had lived as happily and respectfully as
hearts could desire
Would he return with the team and gain
the new home for his family? OF would he
continue his drunken spree and spend the
money his wife's clothing had been sacri-
feed to secure? / asked these questions a
score OF times, as stole furtiye chances at
at the troubled look in the woman's eyes,
and noted the terrible strain her mind was
in while he was gone.
The furniture was nearly all packed in
readiness for removal, and / knew, though
she did not tell me, that the frail wife had
spent her strength in the arduous prepara-
ton.
had told the landlord that they were
ready to move and would be surely gone that
day. He was not half satisfied He came
tearing to the Office in great stew of anger
and impatience to have them thrust out
forthwith. He would not grant another
hours delay, so there was no help for it, if
Sevholm did not speedily appear / should be
compelled to place their effects on the side
walk.
So stating to Mrs. Sevholm, added that /
would a heap rather take licking than do
It, With tears of thankfulness in her eyes
she responded:
.n1l - -.